Fluid-fuel feeder.



E. F. HOPKINS.

FLUID FUEL FEEDER.

APPLICATION FILED P31112, 1912.

Patented Oct. 27, 1914 .u a f 7 w a j M. l f 7N Z E. IE. HOPKINS.

FLUID FUEL FEEDER.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. l2, 1912. 1,1 14,764. Patented (m2112914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

THE NORRIS PETERS C0.,PH0TDLITH1.. WASHINGTON. D. C.

EZRA F. HOPKINS, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

FLUID-FUEL Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented oct. 2v, 1914.

Application led February 12, 1912. Serial N o. 677,145.

To all 'whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, EZRA F. HOPKINS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and lState of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fluid-Fuel Feeders, of which the following is a specification.

`This invention relates to the feeding of fluids for fuel purposes into apparatus of any nature, as for examples, combustion chambers of various forms ofrpower generators, or prime movers.

It has for one of its objects the production of a device for the purpose specied, which is positive in its action, so that temporary variations with reference to the combustion chamber, such as the amount of pressure therein, will affectl the rate and the manner of feeding the fuel.

Another object is to produce means operated either manually or automatically for eectively regulating the rate at which the fuel is fed, and to provide for the automatically operated meansV being controlled, if desired, by the speed of the' engine, or other machinel operated by means of the generator.

A further object is the production of such a device which will automatically compensate for the wear of its parts, and also a device which is very dependable, requiring little or no attention to keep it in good working order, and requiring but little lubricating. l

A further object is to prevent all danger from baclciring, or from accidental ignition in any way of the fuel as it is being fed to the combustion chamber.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinal central section of av low power feeder embodying features of my invention. F ig.' 2 is a transverse section of the same on the line 2 2, and Fig. 3 is a similar section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. A is a perspective view of the rotating member of the feeder. Fig. 5 is a vertical central section of a modification of the feeder, which is adapted to high power uses. Fig. 6 is a plan view of same with portions in section. Figs. 7, S and 9 are sections of portions of the modifications of the device shown in Figs. 5 and 6.

The devices which I have illustrated and shall describe which embody features of my invention feeds liquid or gas fuel into the combustion chamber. Any fluid fuel from the most volatile gases to the most nonvolatile liquids may be used by proper adjustments, and if necessary, proper modifications in the details as described. The manner of feeding the lfuel is somewhat similar tothe action ofascrew which is used to transport fluids or solidsfrom one place to another. A vertical member rotates within a casing and has grooves on its periphery adjacent to the inner surfacel ofv the casing. These grooves receive thefuel, and as the member rotates carry the fuel and deliver it into receiving-chambers in the inner sides of the walls of the casing. Otherk grooves in the rotary memberreceive the fuel from these chambers and deliver it into the combustion chamber, the second set of grooves in the rotating member beingv in a higher longitudinal plane than the first set. The first setofgrooves open at their lower ends into a fuel-supplying chamber, and the second `set open at their upper ends 'into a chamber communicating with the combustion chamber. The grooves, however, dier from the grooves of a screw in-that they are all disconnected, and they are so placed that fuel is never being delivered by one set of grooves into the receivingy chambers at the same time it is being received by any of the other grooves from the same chamber, and hence there is at no time open'communication between the external supply of fuel and the combustion chamber. Thus back-firing is entirely prevented, and irregularities in eX-v ternal or internal pressure are eliminated.

The rotating member 10 ofthe low power feeder of Fig. 1 is shown with its grooves 11 and 12in Fig. 4. The vrotary member is vpreferably mounted vertically inthe casing 15 with its openv end upward, but it may be mounted horizontally or `otherwiseif desired. The grooves 11 extend downwardly and open into the annular cavity 13 which encircles the member. And grooves 12 eX- tend upwardly and open into the chamber 19, which in turn opens into the combustion or other chamber where the fuel is to be used. The opening 14: in the casing 15 is connected in any suitable manner with a suitable supply of fuel. `A pressure somewhat in excess of the average pressure in the combustion chamber acts on thegas or liquid fuel supply and causes the fuel to pass into the opening 14 through a suitable connecting pipe threaded therein.4 It then passes into lthe annular cavity 16 inthe casing encircling the rotary member and into the annular cavity 13, which at all times registers with the cavity 16. The fuel then passes into the grooves 11 and bylthese is delivered into a plurality of chambers. 13 in the casing. These chambers are so posi'- tioned that they alternately register with individuals of the grooves 11 and 12. respectively. The fuel in the upper portion of the grooves 11, as these grooves register with chambers 13, passes into the chambers and some of the fuel in turn passes from these chambers into the grooves 12 as they register with the chambers. y

The casing 15 is screwed, or attached in any other suitable manner, to the combustion chamber, or the chamber in which the fuel is to be used. The annular chamber 19 formed by the walls of the rotary member and the casing forms part of the combustion chamber, and for convenience will hereinafter be designated as the combustion chamber. The grooves 12 open into this chamber 19 and fuel contained in these grooves is constantly working upward into this chamber. This is due partly to capillary action and partly because the reduced pressure in Athe combustion chamber to which the fuel is exposed allows gaseous portions of the fuel to expand and pass upward into the chamber. In addition the clearance between the walls of the 'rotary member and the casing will be suflicient to Aallow the external pressure to act eectively on the fuel forcing it onward during its entire passage. ln the meantime airl or some other fluid containing oxygen under pressure enters the inlet 2O from some suitable source of supply through a connecting pipe threaded therein. It then passes into the annular groove 21 in the casing. From this it passes into the .transverse passage 22 and the longitudinal passage 23, and then into the combustion chamber. As the fuel evaporates and passes the upper end of the rotary member 10, it mixes with the air entering the chamber through the passageway 23 and becomes in proper condition for combustion. lt will be understood that during the entire process the rotary member 19 is caused to rotate in the casing 15 by some suitable means. In this instance l have used for the purpose a worm gear 24 actuated by a worm 25 fixed on a shaft 26. The shaft may be operated by any suitable means.

' in order to economize in the use of the fuel and to control the power output, the quantity of fuel admitted to the combustion chamber may be governed by varying the speed of rotation of the member 10, by regulating the external pressure on the fuel, or

by varying the capacity of the chambers 18` by means of the screws 27. I'n practice, more or less air or vapor will be contained in the chambers 18 and this will allow A fdr-ced therein.

more or less fuel to be forced into the chambers by compressing the contained gas. And the greater the capacity of the chamber the .greater the amount of contained gas, and

the greater the amount of fuel that may be Hence by unscrewing the screws 27 the rate of feeding may be increased. The quantity of air admitted into the combustion chamber also may be regulated by the use of va regulating valve in the supply pipe, or by varying the pressure on the air, or otherwise.

As the grooves l1 and 12 are not connected and are positioned on the rotating member with reference to each other sc that they are atno time connected by means of the chambers 13, a sufficiently closed joint is at all times maintained between the combustion chamber and the fuel supply, so that any possibility of back-firing is eliminated. As the groove 21 encircles the member l0, it allows a uniform quantity of air to pass through the passages 22 and 23 at all times. It will thus be seen that the feeding is positive in its action, being independent of any fluctuations in the internal pressure, and that the annoyance and danger, as well as waste, from back-firing is avoided. The feeder may be attached to the combustion chamber by means of hreads 28, or in any other suitable manner.

Villiers a large amount of fuel is to be used in case of high-power generators, the surface of the rotary members must be correspondingly increased in size so as to give sufficient groove capacity, and also to give suliicient strength to prevent danger of torsional fracture, while allowing at the same time a sufficiently large air passage to accommodate the increased amount of air required. Figs. 5 and 6 illustrate a device of this nature. rl`he vertical member 29 is caused to rotate in the casing 30 by means of a worm gear 31 which is operated by the worm 32 fixed on the shaft 33.

F ig. 7 shows a reduced view of a modication of the operating device of the highpower feeder in which the shaft extends downwardly from the feeder. This type may be used when it is desired to drive the feeder from below. ln this case the shaft may have fixed thereon a pinion 35 meshing with the gear 3G encircling the member 29 which is caused to rotate in the casing 30.

The two conical sur aces of the member 29 and casing 30 in either of the types are held in contact with each other but are not pressed together. The member 29 is supported by a ring of balls 37 which prevents the two conical surfaces pressing too tightly together. The balls are supported by a beveled ring 38 encircling the rotary member but fixed to the casing. As the balls and the ring wear by use, the rotary member sinks in the casing and thus compensates for the slight wear which gradually takes place between the two members, so that the two surfaces are constantly maintained loosely in contact.

A. member 39 provides means for attaching the feeder to a suitable object such as a cylinder of an internal combustion engine, the mixing chamber 40 in such a case forming a portion of the combustion chamber. The feeder may be attached by means of the threads 4l, or by any other suitable means. This member 39 prevents the member 29 from rising in its seat, but it is not in contact therewith except when the rotary member 29, for any reason, is forced upwardly. In order to adjust )the position of the member 39 to compensate for any wear between the adjacent surfaces of members 29 and 39, or members 29 and 30, shims 42 may be placed between the casing and the flange 43 of the member 39 and these shims may be removed when desired. A more expensive, but more desirable method for such adjustment is shown in Fig. 8 in which the member`39 is supported by the casing 30 by means of the flange 43, Fig. 5. But the adjacent surfaces 44 and 45,0f the members 29 and 39 are beveled as indicated, and the member 29 is kept from rising by means of balls46. Gravitation causesk the balls to sink into the aperture 47 until they press against both'surfaces. As the surfaces 44 and 45 are not parallel, as wearing by the balls occur, or as the rotary member sinks in its bearing, the balls will sink in the aperture and compensate for the wear, preventing rising of the rotary member. So that any wear between either ofthe two sets of adjacent surfaces is automatically cared for.

The balls 37 and 46 are used not only to compensate for wear and to relieve friction, but they also keep the fuel feeder in operative condition in case the lubricating oil is stopped. ln fact the parts would operate successfully without any lubricant. However, suitable means are provided for lubrication at all. desirable points. The shaft 33 is also journaled in ball bearings 48, 49 and 50. A cavity 5l provides for packing the shaft with any suitable packing material, and the material may be entered through the opening 52 and packed by means of a screw threaded therein.

The method of introducing fuel into the combustion chamber by means of this highpower feeder is very similar to that of the low-power feeder herein above described, but for the sake of clearness the method of the high-power feeder will now be explained in detail. j

The fuel under pressure enters the feeder through the opening 53 into which isv threaded the pipe 53a and which is connected in any suitable manner to a fuel enlarging sufficiently these cavities.

supply. The annular groove 54 in the casing 30 and the grooves 55 and 56 in the rotary member `29 correspond tothe annular groove 16 and the longitudinal grooves l1 and l2 of the low-power device.

vspaced uniformly around `the periphery of the rotary member and extend longitudinally in both .directions a distance suflicient to register in their passage with the chambers 56a. The grooves 56 are also uniformly distributed around the rotary'member and also register in their passage with the members 56a. The upper kseries of grooves 56 extend upwardly and open into the annular groove 58, and the lower series of grooves 56 extend downwardly and open into the annular groove 59. As the member 29 rotates the fuel is received by the groove 55 and is conveyed in these grooves to the chambers 56a. Itis then received from these chambers by the grooves 56, and from the/se it passes into the annular grooves 58 and 59.

Connecting the annular groove 59 with the chamber 40 is an annular cavity 60 which is formed between the inner surface of the rotary member and the outer surface of the cylindrical member 61 which is threaded into the casing land projects within the rotary member. The fuel passes upward from the groove 59 through the cavity 60 and iows along the cross-pieces 6l in the grooves 62. Similarly the fuel enters the groove 58 from the grooves 56, passes through the openings 57 to the crosspieces 61 and into the grooves 6'2. In the meantime air or oxydizing iiuid under sufficient pressure 'enters the passageway 63 from any suitable source and passes upward through openings 64 (Fig. 6) and the aperture 65. As the fuel passes down the crosspieces it will evaporate more or less and become mixed with the air issuing through the openings 64. lf, however, the fuel is not suficientlv volatile to evaporate in its passage along the grooves, it will reach the aperture 65 and there mix with the rising air and be carried up with the air in the form of a spray. Vhen fuel of less volatility is used, the cavities 57 must be larger than when the volatility ofthe fuel is greater, and special provision is made for Annular tubes 66 are threaded into the openings 67. The outer `end of each of these tubes extends upwardlyy and has threaded therein a screw 68. rIhe size of the chamber within the tube may then be varied by means of `this screw. These chambers Awill llt] contain at all times more or less air or vapor. This gas, by virtue of the pressure on the entering fuel will be more or less compressed and thus a greater or less quantity of fuel will be forced into the receiving chambers 57. The amount of gas therein will determine the amount of surplus fuel that will be forced into Athe chambers and hence will determine the amount of fuel delivered to the grooves 56.

Fig. 9 shows a modified form of tube which is used with variable speed engines. rlhe screw is replaced by the plunger 69. This plunger is connected in any suitable manner with a speed governor on the engine and is forced downwardlyas the speed increases, thus causing less fuel to be delivered to the generator, and hence causing the power of the generator to diminish. A stuffing box prevents the escape of the contained air or gas. The amount of fuel and air fed may be regulated in the same way as with the low power feeder, as hereinbefore described.

2 l wish to have it understood that the invention herein set forth is capable of various other modifications, and I do not therefore limit the invention to the form and arrangement herein shown and described.

I claim as my invent-ion:

l. A fluid fuel feeder comprising a casing, a rotary member in said casing, said casing having an inlet port therethrough, said casing having a chamber therein, said rotary member having a groove therein, said groove, `as the member rotates, registering alternately with said port and with said chamber, said member having a second groove therein, said feeder having a mixing chamber at one end thereof, said second groove in said rot-ary member opening into said mixing chamber, said second groove, as the member rotates, registering with said first mentioned chamber, and means for rotating said member. i

2. A rotary fuel feeder comprising a casing and a rotary member mounted in said casing, said casing having a fuel inlet port and an air inlet port therethrough, said casing` having a fuel chamber therein, said rotary member having a groove therein, said groove, as the member rotates, registering alternately with said fuel inlet port and said chamber, said rotary member having a second groove therein, said feeder having a mixing chamber at one end thereof, said second groo-ve opening into said mixing chamber, and said second groove, as the member rotates, registering with said fuel chamber, said rotary member having a passageway connecting said mixing chamber with said air inlet port, and means for rotating said member.

3. A fluid fuel feeder comprising a casing and a rotary member in said casing, said casing having a fuel inlet port, said casing having a chamber therein, said rotary memloer having a groove therein, said groove, as the member rotates, registering alternately with said inlet port and said chamber, said rotary member having a second groove therein, vsaid feeder having a mixing chamber at one end thereof, said second groove opening into said mixing chamber, and said second groove, as the member rotates, registering with said first mentioned chamber, said rotary member having an air inlet port and having a passageway connecting said Vair inlet port with said mixing chamber, said feeder adapted to be used with an engine, and means depending upc-n the speed of the engine for varying the capacity of said first mentioned chamber.

et. A fluid fuel feeder comprising a casing and a member rotatably mounted in said casing, said casing having a fuel inlet port, said member having an annular groove registering with said port, said casing having an outlet port, said casing having a series of chambers in the inner side of its walls, said member having a series of longitudinal grooves opening into the annular groove in said member, and registering, as the member rotates, with said chambers, said member having a second series of longitudinal grooves opening at all times into said outlet port and registering as the member rotates with said chambers and means for rotating said member.

A fluid fuel feeder comprising a stationary member with a vertical downwardly` tapering opening, a rotary member with a tapering periphery mounted in said opening, means for rotating said rotary member, means for conveying fuel between said tapering surfaces from a fuel supply to a combustion chamber, and automatic means for compensating for the wear of said tapei-ing surfaces, whereby said conveying means are not varied by said wear.

6. A iiuid fuel feeder comprising a stationary member with a vertical tapering opening, said opening converging downward, a rotary member with a tapering periphery mounted in said opening, means for rotating said rotary member, means for conveying fuel between the adjacent walls of said members, and automatic means for compensating for the wear of said taper surfaces, said automatic means comprising balls resting upon said stationary member and supporting said rotary member, the surface of said stationary member upon which said 'balls rest being inclined downwardly.

'l'. A fluid fuel feeder comprising a casing, said casing having a vertical conical opening, said opening converging downwardly, a, rotary member with a conical periphery mounted in said opening, means for rotating said rotary member, and means fcr conveying fuel between the walls of said casing and said member, a stationary member mounted in said casing above said rotary member, whereby said rotary member is prevented from rising, and automatic means for compensating for the wear of the adjacent surfaces of said casing and said rotary member.

8. A duid fuel feeder comprising a casr ing and a rotary member in said casing, said casing having a fuel inlet port and an air inlet port therethrough, said easing having a chamber therein, said rotary member having a groove therein, said groove, as the member rotates, registering alternately with said lfuel inlet port and said chamber, said rotary member having a second groove therein, said feeder having a mixing chamber at one end thereof, said second groove opening into said mixing chamber and reg istering, as the member rotates, with said first mentioned chamber, said member having a passageway connecting said air inlet port with said mining chamber, and means for varying the capacity of said first mentioned chamber.

9. A iiuid fuel feeder comprising a cas` ing, said casing having a fuel inlet, means for supplying fuel to said inlet, a bearing in said casing, a rotary member mounted in said bearing, said casing and said member having grooves in their adjacent surfaces for conveying fuel along said surfaces,

said fuel inlet opening intothe grooves of c l0. A carbureter comprising a casing, said y casing having a passageway therethrough, a rotary member mounted in said passageway, a second passageway through said member, one end of said second passageway adapted to receive air under pressure, and the other end adapted tobe attached to an explosion chamber, a bridge across said second passageway, said casing having a fuel inlet therethrough, and said casing and said member having means for conveying fuel through said inlet onto said bridge.

11. A carbureter comprising a casing having a passageway therethrough, one end of said passageway adapted to receive vair under pressure, a rotary bridge across said passageway, said bridge having an aperture therethrough, said casing having a fuel inlet therethrough, and means for supplying liquid fuel through said inlet and onto said bridge.

In witness whereof I hereunto aiiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

EZRA F. HOPKINS.

Vitnesses JAMES M. FnRoN, ARcHiBALD CAMPBELL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the `Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, ID. C. 

